Abnormality:failure to function adequately, statistical infrequency Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is Statistical infrequency (3)
- Someone is mentally abnormal if their mental condition is very rare in the population
- The rarity is judged objectively using statistics (Normal distribution curve)
- Relies on the use of up to date stats
What is the normal distribution curve (3)
-It shows the population’s average spread of specific characteristics
- The mean mode median model scores are all at the highest point, the most common behaviour.
-At each end there are fewer people with those behaviours
What is a positive evaluation of using statistical frequency to define abnormality(3) objectivity (small)
-The individuals who are assessed as being abnormal have been evaluated objectively
-which is better than other definitions that depend on subjective opinions of a clinician
-For example: deciding if the client is coping or not is a vague concept and two observers may disagree
What is one criticism of using statistical infrequency (3) Cut off point
-The psychological community decides the cut off point for what is statistically rare enough to be defined as abnormal
-This is a subjective decision with real implications.
-For example, defining intellectual disability as 70 IQ and under means people with an IQ just over 70 may be denied support
Not everyone Benefits from a label
- Another problem with statistical infrequency is that, where someone is living a happy fulfilled life, there is no benefit to them being labelled as abnormal regardless of how unusual they are.
- So someone with a very low IQ but who was not distressed, quite capable of working, etc., would simply not need a diagnosis of intellectual disability.
- If that person was ‘labelled’ as abnormal this might have a negative effect on the way
others view them and the way they view themselves.
Positive characteristics can be defined as Abnormal (4)
Statistical infrequency
- One limitation of the statistical infrequency definnition is that Unusual characteristics can be positive but still be defined as abnormal.
- IQ scores over 130 are just as unusual as those below 70, but we wouldn’t think of super intelligence as an undesirable characteristic that needs treatment.
- Just because very few people display certain behaviours does not make that behaviour statistically abnormal, and doesn’t mean it requires treatment to return to normal.
- This is a serious limitation to the concept of statistical infrequency and mean that it would never be used alone to make a diagnosis.
Define failure to function adequately (FFA)
Refers to when someone is unable to cope with ordinary day to day living
What are 5 of Rosenham and Seligman’s (1989) features of failure to function
- Maladaptive behaviour: Individuals behave in ways that go against their long term interests
- Personal distress: The individual suffers from anxiety and distress
- Observer discomfort: the individual’s behaviour causes distress to those around them
- Irrationality: It is difficult to understand the motivation behind the individuals
- Unconventionality: Behaviour doesnt match what is typically accepted by sosciety
Strength of FFA Patients perspective (4)
- A strength of failure to function adequately is that it does attempt to include the subjective experience of the individual.
- It may not be an entirely satisfactory approach because it is difficult to assess distress, but at least this definition acknowledges that the experience of the patient (and/or others) is important.
- In this sense the failure to function adequately definition captures the experience of many of the people who need help.
- This suggests that failure to function adequately is a useful criterion for assessing abnormality.
Subjectivity of FFA (4)
- One criticism of FFA is that it is subjective when deciding whether someone is failing to function adequately as someone has to judge whether a patient is distressed or distressing.
- Some patients may say they are distressed but may be judged as not suffering.
- There are methods for making such judgments as objective as possible, including checklists such as Global Assessment of Functioning Scale.
- However, the principle remains that someone (e.g. a psychiatrist) has the right to
make this judgement.
FFA is not a complete definition of abnormality (5)
- One major criticism of FFA is that it is not a complete definition of abnormality
- In practice it can be hard to say when someone is really failing to function and when they are just deviating from social norms.
- We might think that not having a job is a sign of failure to function adequately. But then what do we say about people with alternative lifestyles who choose not to have those things?
- Similarly those who practise extreme sports could be accused of behaving in a maladaptive way, whilst those with religious or supernatural beliefs could be seen as irrational.
- If we treat these behaviours as ‘failures’ of adequate functioning, we risk limiting personal freedom and discriminating against minority groups.
Eval points in total
Statistical infrequency
S-Not everyone benefits from a label
L-Positive characteristics can be defined as abnormal and L-Cut off point (They go together)
FFA
S-Patients perspective
L-Subjective
L-Not aq complete definiton
